Sites of Special Scientific Interest
7.27 Of the nine English regions, the South West contains the 3rd largest area of land designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), behind the North West and Yorkshire & the Humber.
7.28 In the past two years excellent progress has been made towards the 2010 Public Service Agreement target (PSA) condition of being in favourable or unfavourable recovering condition.
7.29 SSSIs in PSA target condition have increased from almost 68% in 2003 to over 81% in February 2008, some way ahead of the national average of 80%. Within the South West, Cornwall had the highest proportion in target condition (89.29%), closely followed by the Former Avon area (89.15%). Although still relatively high, Somerset had the lowest proportion (69.92%). (Natural England, 2008)
7.30 More information about SSSIs is available from the South West Observatory Environment website. Sites of Special Scientific Interest is also an indicator used to monitor progress of the Regional Environment Strategy.